A coulinary tour

Leipzig has always been commended as a hospitable city. Merchants coming to the city for trade fairs and students alike praised the city's public houses. Johann Wolfgang Goethe (who was a student in the city) immortalised Auerbachs Keller in his play "Faust", and a visit to the famous barrel cellar is not to be missed when in Leipzig.

Leipzigers are also known for their proverbial love of coffee, and the popularity of the hot drink from Arabia among the people here gave rise to the nickname "Kaffeesachse" ("Coffee-Saxon"). Hence it comes as no surprise to learn that coffee-houses were popular meeting places in the city as early as 1695. Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum is the oldest surviving coffee-house and restaurant in Europe to have been continually in operation. The coffee-house tradition is still maintained in various historical cafés in the city and is also being revived in newly established coffee-houses.

Moreover, the city has several "pub districts" including the one known as "Drallewatsch", running from Brühl precinct along Fleischergasse to the New Town Hall.

Many pubs 'around the corner' have survived throughout the city, many of which serve good plain food. In addition, many of the allotment garden areas have their own garden pubs, whose beer gardens are especially popular in the summer. Among them is Schrebers Restaurant und Biergarten in the oldest allotment area in Germany.

A particular Leipzig speciality "Leipzig Gose", a top-fermented beer which is brewed once again in Leipzig and was almost forgotten until revived by an enterprising Leipzig landlord. To find out more about the origin and distribution of this once very popular alcoholic drink, and to sample it for yourself, visit the public house & Gose brewery Gasthaus- & Gosebrauerei Bayerischer Bahnhof or the Gose pub Gosenschenke Ohne Bedenken in Leipzig-Gohlis.

The number of restaurants, pubs and cafés has grown substantially in recent years. Today, Leipzig can offer its visitors a wide range of international cuisine as well as events restaurants of almost all kinds, combining the serving of food with exhibitions, music and dance, a unique atmosphere or interior design, or live performances. To combine the taste of a good beer and a decent snack with some light exercise, try one of the bowling or pool and billiard bars.